Frost's 2024 Top 10
So here is my definitive Top 10 list for 2024. It's been one hell of a year for us metalheads. Probably one of the best years for metal music in the 21st century. Had a blast listening to so many superb albums while going through a crazy/frantic transitional year on a personal level so without further delay: |
| 1 |  | Ulcerate
Cutting the Throat of God
To be honest it's very difficult to pick just one AOTY this year. My top 4 picks are all pretty much tied, but I found myself coming back to this one the most and I just can't deny how incredible this album is. It's certainly one of the best Disso-Death albums of all time for me and watching the band playing the whole thing live was a once in a lifetime experience. Best gig I attended to this year. Score: 98/100 |
| 2 |  | Defeated Sanity
Chronicles of Lunacy
The absolute kings of tech/brutal death metal came back with another classic. One of the most anticipated albums of the year delivered the goods in spectacular fashion. Another stellar performance from Lille & co with their best production work to date. Tied with Passages for my fav DS album. Score: 98/100 |
| 3 |  | Blood Incantation
Absolute Elsewhere
Ever since the release of their debut album, Starspawn, Blood Incantation have become a fan favorite band in the modern death metal scene. Their sci-fi, esoteric, space/cosmos conspiracy themed metal coupled with their goofy/nerd/weirdo attitude have left anything but indifference on their intergalactic trail. I love the guys and their music with a burning passion and I was a bit worried when I saw them going all in with their prog elements on this one. I was confused at first because I did not know if I was witnessing the demise of another great death metal band on the neverending shore of progressive tendencies or, on the contrary, I was being blessed with Pink Floydian death metal bliss. Luckily it was the second and I consider this now a seminal album for death metal and one that will be revered as a landmark of the genre in a not so distant future. Score: 98/100 |
| 4 |  | Brodequin
Harbinger of Woe
These underground brutal death legends came back with their best album to date. An absolute masterpiece of brutal death metal. Perfect combination of technicality, songwriting, album length and concept, which suits this particular branch of death metal like a glove. One of the best albums of the sub-genre, period. Score: 98/100 |
| 5 |  | Vemod (NO)
The Deepening
Another band that came back from a long hiatus and released a superb piece of work. One of the greatest surprises of this year for me. It's been on my spinning list since release and I love it so much I ended up getting the limited edition book, which is very beautiful. Kudos to Hawks for giving this the review it deserves. Score: 95/100 |
| 6 |  | Oranssi Pazuzu
Muuntautuja
These guys never miss. Never. I love every single album of theirs and this was no exception. This is probably in my Top 3 of their discog. One of the most original bands inside the avant-garde/psych black scene. Managed to catch them live too and they were outstanding too. Score: 94/100 |
| 7 |  | Pyrrhon
Exhaust
I always felt this band had a lot potential, yet none of their albums caught my attention until they released this beast. It's not only their best work to date, but another absolutely brilliant slab of disso-death released in 2024. State of the art technical prowess and Gorguts's esque songwriting make this one of the strongest albums disso-death albums out there. Score: 94/100 |
| 8 |  | State Faults
Children of the Moon
I totally get the love for this album. It's a very accomplished and eclectic screamo/post-hardcore LP with lots of emotion, dynamism and musicality. I was very skeptical when I saw the high avg but it mostly lived up to it for me. Not the biggest fan of the genre, but this is undoubtely one of the best screamo albums I've heard so far in my life. Score: 93/100 |
| 9 |  | Ihsahn
Ihsahn
Ihsahn doing Ihsahn things. As simple as that. The guy is a geek and a genius and I love it. My fav Ihsahn album (after Arktis of course). Lyrics as awesome as always.
Score: 90/100 |
| 10 |  | Chat Pile
Cool World
As you may already know I love these guys. Their brand of socially conscious, raw, organic, noise rock infused sludge metal is just so good. Combining elements of bands like Godflesh, Swans or Daughters they had the very hard task of living up to the hype after releasing a superb debut album that made many of us instant fans. At first I thought this was a step or two below their first effort, but repeated listens made me appreciate this almost as much. Debut still gets the edge for me but this is another excellent album by a fantastic band. Singer still gets the "Jim Morrison of Sludge Metal" tag from me, dude is awesome.
Score: 90/100 |
| 11 |  | Brutalism (USA)
Solace in Absurdity
Honorable mention for these kids. They released an absurdily good tech/brutal death album that would make the masters of the craft proud. Score: 90/100 |
|
